Kandace Springs – Soul Eyes

Blue Note

Kandace Springs – Soul Eyes

Produced by Grammy-winning producer Larry Klein (Lizz Wright, Melody Gardot, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock), the album touches upon soul, pop and channels her jazz influences as well as her Nashville upbringing.

Kandace counts such stylists as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Roberta Flack and Norah Jones as her heroes, but as evidenced by Soul Eyes, Springs mimics none of them. Kandace’s journey to discovering her uniqueness didn’t happen overnight. In fact, her 2014 self-titled debut EP had a decidedly contemporary R&B/hip-hop bent with production by Pop & Oak (Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Miguel). The EP was incredibly well-received and led to performances on Late Show With David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as appearances at the Afropunk and Bonnaroo festivals. Kandace was dubbed a “suave songstress” (Wall Street Journal), “a versatile and vital artist” (Afropunk), and “a vocal force to be reckoned with” (Okayplayer). As amazing as those comments were, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t yet singing with her true voice.

Conversations with her longtime producers Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers led to soul searching and a rethinking of her musical direction. For Soul Eyes, Kandace continued working closely with Rogers, Sturken and Klein. “Larry wanted me to be free in the studio,” she recalls. “I’ve been through a lot of other sessions in which the producer tries to take control of your sound. Larry was just like, ‘Go in and play what you feel.’ That ultimately led to the best outcome; he captured this record perfectly.” “When I first heard Kandace,” says Klein, “I was sold after hearing one song. Her smoky voice coupled with a sense of phrasing way beyond her years, and her angular way of accompanying herself on piano grabbed me right away.” The eleven songs contained on Soul Eyes are a mix of Kandace’s originals and co-writes as well as the jazz classic “Soul Eyes” and songs by Jesse Harris, Shelby Lynne, War, and others.

“The 11-track Soul Eyes features an eclectic mix of originals and covers about love and romance that cater perfectly to Springs’ alluring alto and innovative piano arrangements. Trumpeter Terence Blanchard guests on the title track, a reinterpretation of the jazz classic by Mal Waldron. Springs also intriguingly reimagines songs by Shelby Lynne (“Thought It Would Be Easier,” “Leavin’”) and War (“The World Is a Ghetto”).” – Billboard

“Mentored by Prince, the Nashville-born Springs studied the greats-Ella, Billie, Nina-but has emerged with a unique pop-jazz sound that owes no debts, a bewitching amalgam of Dusty Springfield’s caliginous, cream-filled soulfulness and Nancy Wilson’s sensual sophistication, with distinct shades of Michael Jackson.” – Jazz Times